Submissions

Author Guidelines

Thank you for considering Governance & Behavioural Studies (GBS) for submitting your manuscript. Please carefully review these guidelines to ensure that your submission meets the journal's requirements.

1. Submission Types

GBS welcomes the following types of manuscripts:

• Original Research Articles: Empirical or theoretical contributions providing innovative insights into governance and behavioural studies. (Typically 6,000-10,000 words)
• Review Articles: Systematic and critical assessments of existing literature, highlighting gaps and directions for future research. (Typically 6,000-12,000 words)
• Research Notes and Short Communications: Concise reports presenting preliminary results, new methodologies, or novel ideas. (Typically 2,000-5,000 words)
• Book Reviews: Reviews of recent books relevant to governance and behavioural studies. (Typically 800-2,000 words)

2. Manuscript Preparation

Please follow the guidelines below when preparing your manuscript:

General Format

• Use Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) format.
• Double-spaced text, standard margins (2.5cm or 1 inch on all sides).
• Times New Roman or similar standard font, size 12 points.
• Number all pages consecutively.
• Clearly distinguish between headings and subheadings.

Manuscript Structure

Your manuscript should include the following sections (for research articles):

• Title Page: Manuscript title, Author(s) names, affiliations, corresponding author’s contact details (email, address), and ORCID (if available).
• Abstract: Provide a structured abstract (150-250 words) clearly stating the research purpose, methodology, main results, and conclusions.
• Keywords: List 4–6 relevant keywords.
• Main Text: Typically includes Introduction, Literature Review (optional), Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.
• Declarations: Funding information, conflict of interest statement, ethical approval (if applicable).
• References: List all cited sources in APA 7th edition style (see below).
• Appendices: Include supplementary materials, tables, figures, datasets, or detailed methodological notes if necessary.

3. Referencing and Citation Style

GBS utilizes the APA 7th edition referencing style. Some illustrative examples:

In-text citation examples:

• Single author: (Smith, 2021)
• Two authors: (Smith & Johnson, 2021)
• Multiple authors: (Smith et al., 2021)

Reference list examples:

• Journal article:
  • Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2021). Behavioural insights in public policy: A review. Governance & Behavioural Studies, 1(2), 15–35. https://doi.org/xxx
• Book:
  • Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. Yale University Press.

Please ensure accuracy and completeness of references.

4. Tables and Figures

• Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1) and cited explicitly in the text.
• Provide tables and figures within the manuscript at relevant positions (not at the end).
• Include clear and concise captions above tables and below figures.
• Figures should be high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi).

5. Ethical Standards

• Manuscripts involving human subjects or experimental studies must include an explicit statement regarding ethical approval by an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee.
• Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and funding sources clearly within the manuscript.

6. Language and Editorial Policies

• Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional academic English.
• Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to seek professional language editing before submission.
• Submissions should not have been previously published nor be under consideration elsewhere.

7. Submission Process

All manuscripts should be submitted electronically through our online submission system. (If you have an existing submission system or email, please insert here.)

• Prepare your manuscript according to the guidelines provided.
• Include a cover letter briefly summarizing the manuscript's contribution and originality.
• Clearly identify the corresponding author, including contact details.

8. Peer Review and Publication Timeline

Governance & Behavioural Studies (GBS) is committed to providing authors with efficient, rapid, and rigorous peer review and publication processes. The following outlines our standard timeline:

Initial Editorial Decision:
The editorial team will conduct an initial evaluation upon receiving your submission. Authors will receive the initial editorial decision (whether the manuscript proceeds to peer review or is desk-rejected) within 7 days.

Peer Review Process:
Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening will immediately enter a double-blind peer review process. Our peer review process is rigorous yet streamlined to ensure timely and constructive feedback. The average duration for peer review is approximately 4–6 weeks.

Revisions and Final Decision:
After peer review, authors will receive clear and constructive comments. Authors are encouraged to promptly submit revised manuscripts. The editorial team will make the final acceptance decision as quickly as possible upon receiving revisions, typically within 1–2 weeks.

From Acceptance to Online Publication:
Upon acceptance, the manuscript will undergo typesetting and proofing. The final proof will be sent to authors for approval. Articles will be published online with DOI assignment within 1 week after final acceptance.

Typical timeline summary:

Total Publication Time (Submission to Online): Typically 6–8 weeks

9. Accepted Articles and Publication

Upon acceptance, authors will receive proofs for final review and approval. Authors are responsible for carefully checking proofs for accuracy. Accepted articles will be published online ahead of print and assigned a DOI immediately upon acceptance.

10. Open Access Policy

GBS supports open access publishing. Authors may choose open access publication options to make their articles freely accessible upon publication (details provided separately upon acceptance).

11. Copyright and Licensing

• Authors retain copyright of their manuscripts.
• By submitting, authors grant GBS exclusive rights to publish and distribute the article.

Open access articles will be published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.